Letter-box



F. P. BOAS.

LEITER BOX.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1919 1 354 346, I Patented 001i. 5, 1920.

' l SETS-SHEET I- ATTORNEYS F, P. BOAS.

LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED cum-1919 7 FRANK P 80/15 m m m h 2 5 5% M4 T e w T4 w m 1%? 0 w W M M M w N g 3 W1 3 1, 2 HIM. 4 I T M A TTORNEYS F. P. BOAS. LETTER BOX- APPLICATION FILED ocnao. wars Patented (Pct. 5, 19520.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 9,, P \L. w A K a7 (Q0 A 40 l8 I! k 4 All V 25 Z? {5 25 f J WA, El 30 15 /6 WITNESSES lNl/E/VTOR IE'ANK P BOAS fiTTOR/VEYS UNITED STATES FRANK PETER BOAS, OF TAE'ZAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-BOX.

Application filed October 30, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK P. Boas a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tamaqua, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Letter-Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to receptacles and has particular reference to letter boxes or other collection receptacles.

Among the objects of the invention is to produce a letter box possessing number of novel and peculiarly advantageous features among which are: first, the provision of a box or receptacle of rustproot material or at least having a rustproof exterior, the principal metallic parts being housed within the exterior portion; to provide a letter boxhaving inner and outer relatively movable parts, the movement of the movable part providing for the delivery of the contents of the receptacle in a most convenient manner; the provision of special stop means to hold the receptacle closed and also to limit the relative opening movement of the two parts to prevent separation thereof when the receptacle is open; to provide an improved and novel cembina ion permutation lock and releasing device for the relatively movable member of the receptacle; to provide a novel form of cover for the outer receptacle housing, the same serving to hold the cover closed and also to serve as a holder for packages or newspapers too large to be inserted ordinarily into the interior ot the receptacle, and to provide improved means tor locking the box or receptacle to a wall or other vertical support in such a. manner as to prevent the removal thereof from the support without the destruction thereof.

ll ith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings. in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Serial No. 334,475.

improvement on the broken line ll of Fig. 3 and showing the normal closed position of the parts.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the box open.

Fig. 3 is a. vertical transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. l, but on a somewhat larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3 indicatingespecially the bottom view of the cover and holding means therefor.

F 5 is a detail view in vertical section of the upper portion of the box with the cover raised.

Fig. 6 is a similar view indicating the adaptation of the cover of the box as a holder for newspapers or packages.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional detail of the combined locking and releasing means for the movable member or inner box on the line 7-7 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 8 is an inside face view of the loclc ing and releasing means as will be seen from the line SS of Fig. 7., and indicating especially the position or the parts at the end of the first releasing movement.

Fig. 9 is a similar view indicating the relative position of the parts at the end of the second releasing movement.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail on the line 10l() of Fig. '9.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the finger piece.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the two cooperating fixed and movable disks.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings 1 show my improved letter box or other analogous receptacle as comprising inand outer members 15 and 16 respectively. As shown the outer member 1B is stationary and the member 15 is movable telescopically vertically into the outer box to closed position and downward with respect to the outer box to open position. The fixed member 16 comprises front, rear and side walls 17, 18 and 19 respectively of any suitable material preferably of rustproo f nature. and secured together edge to edge by any suitable means. Except as otherwise indicated this member has open upper and lower ends. The inner box is shown in the nature of a sliding drawer the same bein telescopically fitted into the stationary member by an upward movement from neath the lower end of the fixed member. The slide or drawer is shown herein as comprising solid side and rear walls 20 and 21 respectively, the top panel or end 22 having a slot 23, and the bottom end 24 constituting a closure for the fixed member 16. The entire front of the slide is open except as housed by or within the fixed member so that when the slide is opened or lowered from normal closed position direct access is had to the contents as shown in Fig. 2. Any suitable materials may be employed to make the slide, but to conserve space I prefer to use sheet metal or the like for the vertical walls thereof. Any suitable means may be employed to connect the vertical wall portions to the ends of the slide, but I prefer that such means will include laterally projecting flanges 25 at the upper ends of the side walls 20 for cotiperation with fixed studs 26 or the like to limit the opening movement of the slide. Said stops 26 are fixed upon the side walls 19 of the stationary member and at any suitable distance from the lower end of the fixed member to give ample access to the interior of the slide when open.

Any suitable means may be provided to secure the letter box to a wall or other upright support indicated at S which ordinarily will be flat. To this well employ a locking plate 27 which may be essentially a flat bar or strip of metal adapted to be secured in vertical position directly against the flat wall S as by means of screws 28, or their equivalent. The ends of the plate are bent at right angles to the main flat portion thereof or so as to project horizon: tally from said wall as shown at 29 and so adapted to project into notches or sockets 30 formed in the back wall of the rear panel 1 8. These prongs or projections 29 projecting into the notches 30 serve to make a rigid connection for the fixed receptacle 16 holding the same from movement in any direction except bodily away from the wall. This bodily movement from the wall is prevented, as indicated, by a fastener in the nature of a bolt 31 whose head is countersunk in the upper end of the bar 27 and whose shank in closed position, but when the slide is open the nut is accessible for manipulation by any suitable tool projectable inward through the upper open end of the member 16.

The otherwise open upper end of the fixed casing 16 is provided with a cover 35 hinged at 36 to the upper end of the rear wall 18 and overlaps the upper edges of the other walls of the casing preferably in a downwardly inclined position when closed for the best protection of the receptacle from the elements. Ordinarily this cover will lie closed when not disturbed, but to prevent the lifting thereof by wind or the like I provide an automatic holder therefor com prising a bail shaped member having two side arms 37 and a rear cross bar 38. The front ends of the arms are fixed to the end portions of a rod 39 shown as journaled across the under surface of the front end of the cover 35 as by loops or staples 40. The central portion of the rod is offset or cranked at 41, the crank extending from the axis of the bearings 40 diametrically opposite from the rear cross bar 38 and said cranked portion 41 cooperates constantly with a keeper in the form of a flat spring 42 secured to the under surface of the cover. Consequently the function of the keeper 42 is to bear upward on the crank 41 and tend tohold the rear ends of the arms 37 down against the wall S, and the arms being slightly longer than the shortest distance between the axis of the rod 39 and the wall act as braces whereby an upward lift on the front edge of the cover will not result in opening the same. See Fig. 3. Moreover the bail or holder as indicated in Fig. 6 acts together with the rear wall S and the upper surface of the cover as a holder or gripper for newspapers or packages indicated at P, the sprin keeper 42 still acting automatically through the crank 41 to positively grip such packages or papers.

For the insertion of letters or other small articles into the slide or drawer 15 through the slot 23'the letter carrier or other operator to lift the cover 35 will simply grasp the bail either at the cross bar or either arm and lift upward thereon to swing the cross bar away from the wall and at the same time lift the cover. This may readily be performed by one hand even though he may have letters or the like in the same hand and while lifting the cover in this manner he will slip his hand beneath the same to hold it elevated against the force of gravity while he slips the letters down through the slot. Upon the withdrawal of his hand from the cover it will drop by gravity reinforced by the automatic action of the keeper or spring acting upon the crank and through the crank upon the bail which glides clownward into locking position along the rear wall.

To hold the slide in closed position 1 provide automatic catch means including two relatively movable parts 43 and 44, one fixed to the casing and the other to the slide, tr e movable member being in the nature of a spring and so arranged that when the is moved to its closed position, in this instance upward, the spring will wipe against the fixed member 43 and snap thereover. (See Figs. 1 and 7.) The stationary catch member 43 is shown carried by a disk 4:5 fixed upon the inner surface of a side wall 19 of the casing and over an opening it formed therethrough. This disk is provided with a central hole 47 surrounding and concentric with which are a series of depressions d8 including two holes l9 all spaced equally from one another in the series. The depressions 48 have concaved curved bottoms Fig. 10) and are adapted to serve as temporary checking or holding means for a rotatable disk 50 having a central hole 51 coaxial, with the hole 47, the movable disk being held against the outer face of the disk d5 by means of an expansion spring 52 surrounding'a pin 53 projecting outward through the holes 4-7 and 51 into the center of a finger piece 54. The finger piece is fixed rigidly in any suitable manner upon the outer end of the pin and by virtue of a head 53 on the inner end of the pin the finger and pin are held coaxial with the holes 4:? and 51 and with the inner end of the finger piece can stantly in the opening 46. The outc end of the spring 52 bears against the ini end of the finger piece. The movable r-sk 50 is provided with two peripheral holes 55 diametrically opposite each other and spaced from the center of the hole 51 the same a the holes 49 are spaced from the hole t? the fixed disk. Consequently the holes are adapted in one position of the movable disk to er with the holes 4-9 at which time a projection 56 swaged or otherwise formed on the di. 50 will fit into selected one of the depressions 48 whereby the movable disk is held temporarily from rotation. The inner end or the finger piece is provided with one or more pins 57, shown as two arranged parallel to the axis of the pin 58 and so spaced therefrom as to permit the pins 5'? to pass through the registering holes 55 and 49 provided that the finger piece is so turned around the axis of the pin 53 as to bring said pins 57 into registry with the alined hole One pin 5'? might suffice in some instances for the purpose of this inven-.

tion, but I prefer to use two spaced diamet rically opposite each other as will be appreciated presently. T he spring 52 serving to hold the finger piece thrust forward or out ward with the head 53' of the pin against the inner surface of the fixed disk the finger piece may be rotated withcomparative freedom at any time, the pin 57 being 'fiher free from all resistance or resist d only by the friction between the relatively fixed. and movable disks tending to prevent rotation of the disk 50. Said disk 50 is provided with lugs 58 so arranged as to be engaged simultaneously by both pins when the finger piece is rotated and whereby the disk 50 will be rotated from the finger piece in either direction.

Surrounding the finger piece on the outer surface of the side wall 19 and bounding the opening 46 is a circular dial 59 which is provided with any suitable indicator marks represented by the numerals 1 to 10 and in any suitable order numerically, but spaced circumferentially from one another in accordance with the spacing between the depressions and holes i8 and 49. The finger piece carries an indicator 60 having a predetermined fixed relation to the graduation marks on the dial and the circiunferential location of the pins 57 and parts dependent thereon. The pin or pins 57 serve two important functions: First, as barriers in cooperation with the disks and when the holes therethrough are not in registry, so preventing the plunger 53 from bein moved inward far enough to trip the spring 4% from the lug 48. Secondly the pin or pins 57 serve as means to rotate the disk 50 th bring the holes thereof into registry with the holes d9. Assuming therefore as an illustration that the said pairs of holes will be made to register when the finger piece and disk 50 are rotated in the direction of the arrow upon Fig. 8 until the indicator points to 7 on the scale, the disk 50 rill be held temporarily in this position by means of the projection 56 as above described, but the pins 57 at this time will not be in alinement with the registering holes 55 and ll) and so the finger piece must be rotated through a partial turn in the free direction or with the pins movable directly from the lugs 58, as indicated by the arrow on Fig. 9 until the pointer 60 registers with another predetermined i in? on the dial, as 4. These predetermined numerals and directions for rotation of the finger piece being previously known by the operator movement of the parts to cause them all to register is exceedingly simple and easy and after the finger piece is so positioned the operator pushing inward directly thereon as shown in Fig. 2 causing the headed end of the plunger to release the catch spring 4% and allow the slide to drop open by gravity if the receptacle is arranged in a vertical position as illustrated, or otherwise it will be opened by hand or other means. After the finger piece is released it obviously moves outward again under the force of the coil spring 52 to its normal position of 1. It will thus be seen that the movable finger piece constitutes the actuator part of combined lock and releasing means whereby the receptacle is either held locked or else unlocked when the finger piece is properly manipulated.

The front panel 17 of the casing is preferably fitted with atransparency 61 through which the condition of the interior of the slide may readily be observed in the usual way, this result being facilitated by the fact that the slide has an open front.

I claim:

1. In a letter box comprising a vertically arranged casing having open upper and lower ends, means to hold the casing in fixed position, an inner member slidable vertically through the open lower end of the casing into closing position, one of the members having a slot therethrough for the admission of mail matter, the front of the inner member being open but guarded in a closed position by the casing, manually 0perated means to control the position of the inner member and permit the same to move downward automatically when released to open position and give direct access to the mail matter below the bottom of the casing, and means to limit the downward movement of the inner member preventing the removal thereof from the casing.

" 2. In a leter box, the combination with two relatively slidable members, one within the other, of manually controlled locking means including a finger piece adapted to be rotated and pushed longitudinally, a spring catch member serving to hold the parts from relative movement in locked position but engageable and releasable by .the pushing of said finger piece, and means associated with the finger piece preventing the pushing thereof until it is rotated to a predetermined extent.

3. In-a letter box, the combinatien of a fixed casing, a member movable downward member when elevated to'closed position, a rotatable and endwise movable finger piece cooperating with the catch means to release the same when pushed, and means associated with the finger piece preventing the pushing of the same except when rotated to a predetermined extent.

4i. In a letter box, the combination of a casing having an open top, a cover movably connected to the top for closing it and a member movably attached to the cover serving both as a package holder and means to prevent the undesired opening of the cover.

5. In a collection receptacle of the nature set forth, the combination of a casing, means to secure the same to a fixed support ex tending above the casing, a cover for the casing hinged thereto adjacent to the sup port, and a rigid member pivotally attached to the front portion of the cover and bearing normally at its rear end against said support to prevent the undesired lifting of the cover.

6. In a collection receptacle of the nature set forth, the combination of a rigid casing, means to secure the same in fixed position against an upright support extending above the casing, a cover for the casing hinged thereto adjacent to said support and adapted to be swung upward at its front portion to open position, a rigid member pivoted to the front portion of the cover and adapted to bear against said support, and automatic means acting between the cover and the rigid-member serving to cause aid rigid member to so bear against the support as to tend to cause the cover to be locked closed.

FRANK PETER BOAS 

